"two or three actions OF The Holy Spirit"?
I believe long before we can "figure out the gifts, Either for, or NOT for us, today," we
have to first reconcile the Confusion of "baptisms"? Is it "IN" or "OF" The Spirit?
Scriptures, please, because, "studying" baptisms, I have Only found These:
"With" and "BY" - i.e.:
3 Baptisms Scriptural Summary!: {FULL "study" is here: 13 Bible baptisms!}
And, Please Be Very Richly Blessed In CHRIST, And HIS Word Of Truth!:
LORD JESUS, please open our hearts to All of Thy Truth. Amen:
Q: Does God Still Require water baptism, Today, Under HIS PURE GRACE?:
Q: Is the Only ONE Baptism TODAY "with" OR "BY" The Holy Spirit?
"Prophecy/Law" {earthly} gospel of the kingdom, ISRAEL "Prominent!"
{past/future}
►►► The Twelve Were Sent to {water} baptize! ◄◄◄
The TWO Main (of 12) baptismS =
A) water, For remission of sins!:
(Matthew_3:5-6; Mark_1:4; Luke_3:3; John_1:31; Luke_7:29-30; Acts_10:37)
(Matthew_28:19; Mark_16:16; Acts_2:38, 22:16; Ezekiel_36:25)
+
B) WITH The Holy Spirit, Poured Out By CHRIST, for power, signs And wonders!
(Isaiah_44:3; Matthew_3:11; Mark_1:8, 16:17-18;
Luke_24:49; Acts_2:17-18, 38, 8:15-17, 11:16)
Rightly Divided (2_Timothy_2:15 KJB!) From Things That Differ!:
"Mystery/GRACE!" {Heavenly!} Gospel Of GRACE, Jew And Gentile "Equal!"
{Current, Today!}
►►► Paul Was Not Sent to {water} baptize! Why Not?: ◄◄◄
Today: Only ONE Baptism = "BY" The ONE Spirit = God's OPERATION,
Spiritually Identifying members In (The ONE Body Of) CHRIST!!
(Ephesians_4:5; Colossians_2:12; Galatians_3:27;
Romans_6:3-4; 1_Corinthians_12:13 KJB!)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conclusion: God's ONE Baptism Today? = ONE {MOST Important}?
OR, EQUALS TWO?
Is it not Possible That God's Answer Of "No water baptism, for us Today," Under
HIS Pure GRACE, absolutely vanquishes Satan's Confusion into oblivion!?
Q: IF the water is gone today, what Else "went with it"? powers, signs, wonders,
miracles, healings, word of knowledge, gift of prophecy, and, tongues? Or not?
Just wondering, because of All the Confusion, especially to the
new babes in CHRIST, and, can we "help them Solve this Confusion"?
Possibly this, for starters? GRACE Word for infirmities
Precious friend(s), Please Be Very RICHLY Blessed!
Very interesting subject to me, but it would be nice to see your conclusions in summary. I personally don't believe water baptism is necessary, but was certainly asked for early on. It is an initiation ceremony indicating the novice's true intention to turn his life 100% over to Christ for salvation. It was a *public confession,* but not a ritual that earned salvation. It *followed* salvation. I think it's still a good thing to practice for new converts today, regardless of whether it is mandatory by our own standards of belief.
"Baptism of the Spirit" means the same thing as "Baptism with or by the Spirit." "Baptism of the Spirit" is a formal reference to "Baptism with the Spirit," and refers to the spiritual application of what water baptism symbolizes--a spiritual conversion to Christ.
The Spirit was given in a couple of different ways in the OT era, by God to enable and to empower ministers, and by Christ to his ambassadors to enable them to minister for him. But after the cross, the Spirit was provided for NT ministers, following salvation, in order to minister salvation to others, and to establish the Church. The Spirit also provides them with the authority of Christ's word, as well as with the ability to perform supernatural signs and wonders to confirm their word.
All Christians receive the Holy Spirit upon salvation, and are thus enabled to testify to others regarding their salvation, and to minister the word to fellow believers to build them up in their faith. The Baptism of the Spirit, if it is not understood by the Christian after receiving salvation, will not enter into the relationship with God that enables this experience to be initiated and continued. That's why Apollos had to have the way of God explained to him more fully, even after he had understood and had been ministering the word of Christ.
The way we understand the Baptism of the Spirit is by recognizing the relationship between God's power and our living by the word of God. The Scriptures say that God gives His Spirit to those who obey Him. When we consciously choose to live by God's word in our conscience, we will experience the power of the Holy Spirit to confirm this relationship of power with God. We are empowered to testify to others about our salvation. And we have the assurance of salvation within ourselves, as well.